Lawn sprinkler



March 17, 1936. J. P. l-nJ-BBLELL.

LAWN SPRINKLER Filed OC. 20, 1952 INI/ENTOR. .y Jf55 f? H0555@ A TToRNEY.

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Patented Mar. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The general object of the present invention is to provide improved apparatus for sprinkling lawns and analogous purposes. More specific objects of the invention are to provide improvements in sprinkler head or spray device construction, especially adapted for use in a sprinkling system characterized by the relative ease and uniformity with which a large area can be sprinkled with apparatus which may consist essentially of a suitable length of iiexible hose such as ordinary garden hose and a iew sprinkling heads or spray devices of simple construction and relatively inexpensive.

My improved sprinkling head or spray device is characterized from the operative standpoint by its capacity for delivering a spray discharge which will distribute water with desirable uniformity over a horizontal area which may be described as an annular arc, i. e. a sector portion of an annulus, and which is characterized from the mechanical standpoint by its simplicity and ruggedness and inherent capacity for production at relatively low cost.

In the above mentioned sprinkling system, I employ a plurality of spray devices, each delivering a spray discharge of the above mentioned annular arc from, and all connected at different points along the length of a common exible water supply pipe or hose and normally so relatively spaced that theV areas simultaneously wet `by the diierent spray devices merge at their ends to form an undulating zone or strip, at one side of', and generally parallel in length to the straight, or approximately straight, line along spaced apart points of which the different spray devices are then located. When sucient water has been sprayed upon one such zone, the spray devices may be adjusted to new positions in which they collectively wet a zone parallel to and merging at one edge with one edge of the zone previously wet, and in making such adjustments it is unnecessary to interrupt the discharge of water through diierent spray devices, since the user making the adjustments may remain at the side 45 'of the hose away from which the sprays are directed. Furthermore, with the length of the hose section between each adjacent pair of spray devices suitably in excess of the normal operating distances between the latter, suiiicient slack in the hose is provided to permit the diiierent spray devices connected to the hose to be so adjusted one at a time.

The various features of novelty which char- 'fa'cterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed toand forming a part of this specication. For a better understanding of the invention, however, and the advantages possessed by it reference should be had to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Of the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating my improved sprinkling system;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of one of the l0 spray devices shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on theline 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is an elevation of another spray device shown in Fig. 1.

The sprinkling apparatus shown in Fig. 1 comprises a flexible hose A, which may be ordinary garden hose, and spray devices B, B and B2 supplied with water by the hose A. The device B is connected to the hose A at the discharge end of 20 the latter and the spray devices B and B2 are connected to the hose at suitably spaced points along the length of the latter. In the normal contemplated use of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 the spray device B is located at approxi- 25 mately the mid-point of the straight line connecting the spray devices Band B2. With their positions shown in Fig. 1, the spray devices B,

B and B2 are adapted to simultaneously sprinkle ground areas C, C and C2, respectively. Those 30 areas are similar in form and dimensions, each having curved inner and outer edges C3 and C4 each approximately an arc of 180 about the corresponding spray device. The ends of the arc shaped areas C, C' and C2 extend approxi- 35 mately along the line along which the devices B, B and B2 are located. As shown at their adjacent ends small portions C'* of the adjacent areas C, C and C2 overlap and the three areas collectively form a sprinkling zone or area of un- 40 dulating form at one side of, and generally parallel to the line along which the sprays are located.

In Fig. 1 the areas CA, CA', and CA2 represent areas which may be respectively sprinkled by the 45 devices B, B' and B2 when the latter are similarly adjusted transversely of the line along which they Vare shown in Fig. 1, to thepositions indicated by the points b, 'b' and b2, respectively. The zone or area collectively formed by the areas CA, CA' and 50 CA2 is similar in form to the zone comprising the areas C, C and C2. As shown in Fig. 1 small portions C5 of the two zones overlap. 'I'he overlap.- ping portions C4 and C5 receive more Water than the remaining portions of the ground sprinkled,

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but the resultant departure from uniformity in sprinkling is small because of the relatively small aggregate area of the overlapping portions, and is insignicant in comparison with the area receiving more than the amount of water required with ordinary sprinkling systems operated to insure that no portion of the ground sprinkled receives too little water.

By making the lengths of the hose sections between the spray devices B and the spray. devices B and B2 slightly greater than 'the actual distances between the spray device B and each of the other spray devices when positioned for use as shown in Fig. 1, it is possible to move any one of the three spray devices between its position shown in Fig. 1 and the corresponding position b, b' or'b2 without simultaneously shifting either of the other two spray devices. In the ordinary use of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 in spraying a surface area including sections C, C', C2, CA, CA and CA2, the spray devices win be adjusted in the direeuon away from and not toward the zone previously sprinkled. In other words the area including the section areas CA, CA and CA2v will be sprinkled before the areas C, C' and C2 are sprinkled. With such order of sprinkling, the user may stay at the dry side of the hose while shifting the positions of the spray devices and may shift the latter without interrupting the spray action and without objectionable wetting by the sprays delivered.

The contemplated use of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 thus permits of the easy and `rap1d sprinkling of an extended area with a relatively small and insigniiicant amount of overlapping and consequent lack of uniformity in wetting the individual areas sprinkled by the individual spray devices. It hardly needs to be pointed out that the number of spraying devices served by a single hose may be varied as conditions require. Except in the case of an unusually small lawn, at least two spray devices vwill be used, and to insure adequate water pressure at each spray device, it is ordinarily preferable to connect not more than three spray devices, or four spray devices at the most, to a single supply hose. In sprinkling a lawn of relatively large area, side by side striplike portions thereof may well be successively sprinkled, the sprinkling operation for each strip consisting in the successive sprinkling of successive zone portions like those formed by the Asections C, C Yand C2, and the sections C-A, CA' and CA2 of Fig. 1.

The spray devices B, B and` B2 may be of identical construction in respect to their spraying provisions, and advantageously embody the special features of construction and arrangement illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The spraying devices B and B2 may each be an exact counterpart of the other, but the body portion of the spray device B may well be different in form from the body portions of the spray device B' and B2., since the body of each of the devices B and B2 is interposed between two hose sections, whereas the device B is connected to the end o'f a single hose section only.

The spray device B in the form shown in Figs.

"2, 3 and 4, comprises a body portion in the form 'of an inverted T having a threaded socket B3 at one end of its horizontal portion internally threaded to receive a hose coupling spigot or externally threaded lpart of standard form, and having the opposite end B4 of 4its horizontal portion externally threaded to enter a hose coupling socket of standard form. The uprising tubular outlet portion Biot the body is externally threaded to receive a cap member D which forms the supporting base member of the spray nozzle proper. The latter comprises a body member E which extends through an opening D' in the otherwise closed top wall of the member D. At its lower end the member E is formed with a radial flange E which abuts against the underside of the top wall of the member D at the margin of the opening D. To permit angular adjustment of the nozzle member E relative to the member D, the opening D is made circular in cross-section, and the portion of the member E within the opening is shaped to fit within the peripheral wall of the opening.

The member E is formed with a vertical water passage or chamber E2 which in cross-section is in the form of a section of an arc, preferably and as shown, the section being approximately semi-circular. The upper edge E3 of the cylindrical wall portion of the member E at the convex side of the passage E2 -is beveled to form the underside of an inclined arc shaped discharge nozzle orifice Ei, the opposite wall of which is formed by the correspondingly beveled surface e of a plate-like member e which extends across the top of the channel E2 and is secured against the upper end of the portion of the member at the concave Side of the channel E2. As shown the member -e coma prises an integral down turned'portion e2 and an integral portion e3 projecting horizontally away from the lower end of the portion e2. 'Ihe portion e2 lits against the adjacent at outer side Iof the member E, and the portion e3 cooperates with the ange E' to hold the member E in place in the opening D' when the nozzle structure .is assembled. The members E and e may be secured together in any suitable manner. When those members are die-cast, as they well lmay be, the connection between the members may advantageously comprise a tapered socket E5 in the mem- I ber E receiving and frictionally holding an in'- tegral tapered projection e4 from theunderside o! the upper portion of the member e, which is forced into the socket E5. Ordinarily, a yielding washer F is mounted in the cap `member D between the flange E "and the upper end of the spigot outlet B'1s on which the nozzle is mounted.

With a nozzle having it water channel E2 and discharge orice E4 formed as described, the horizontal area sprayed in any one setting of the orifice will be substantially of the form of one of the sections, C, C', etc., -of Fig. .1. With the concave and convex walls of the channel E2 extending circularly about a vertical axis as `shown in Fig. 4, the curved edges of the horizontal area sprayed will be slightly more convex than are truly circular arcs. In other words, water will be thrown farther by the spray device adjacent the center or crown of the section wetted than adjacent the ends of the latter, so that `the area wetted is a section of an annulus which is elliptical rather than circular. The water distribution over the section sprinkled will be quite uniform provided the end walls l5.FI of the curved channel E2 are properly shaped. I ,have rfound that to prevent excessive Water discharge onto the ends of the annular arc -the Walls E should not extend in planes radial to the axis of the convex and -concave walls of the channel E2 but should be inclined to those planes yso that .inem

angular extent about 'said axis the outer convex wall exceeds the inner concave wall substantially as shown in Fig. 4. It is to be understood of course that by diminishing the `angular `extents -of the curved walls of the channel E2, the arc 1;

length of the section, C, C', C, etc., sprinkled will be correspondingly shortened. As those skilled in the art will understand, while practically all ofthe water discharged will fall within the confines of the section, C, C', etc., some water will be discharged on the ground adjacent but at the outer sides of said section.

The body portion of the spray member B, as shown in Fig. 5, differs from the body member of the devices B' and B2 in that it is of elbow form, providing a single water thoroughfare passage w'ith a horizontal socket l?,6 internally threaded, like the socket B3 previously described, to receive a hose coupling spigot part. At its upper end, vthe body of the spray device B terminates in anV externally threaded portion B'I like the previously described outlet B5, on which the base membeD of the associated nozzle is threaded. It will .be apparent, however, that a body like that employed in the devices B and B2, with its outlet B4 closed by a cap might be used as the body element of the device B in lieu of the special elbow form shown.

The proper relative spacing of the sections simultaneously sprinkled by different spray devices connected to a single hose, and the proper form of the individual sections require a proper relative spacing of the devices and the proper disposition of each individual spray device. In the use of the apparatus to sprinkle a at ground area, the device B' should ordinarily be located midway between the devices B and B2, and the axes of the three devices should be parallel and in most cases should be vertical, and each end wall E7 of each spray device should be parallel to the corresponding wall E" of each of the other two devices. In wetting a ground area which is continuously horizontal but undulating, it may be advantageous, however, to arrange the devices so that said axes are not parallel. Some variationsin the relative spacing of the devices and in the relative directions of their spray discharges maybe desirable in some cases, also, to accommodate irregularities in the contour of the ground sprinkled, or because of winding walks or other special characteristics of the area sprinkled.

The general direction of discharge from any one spray device may obviously be varied somewhat by kbodily adjustment of the spray device angularly about the axis of its water passage E2. A wide adjustment of the general direction of discharge from any spray device may be made without change in the position of the body portion'f of thedevice, by angular adjustment of its member :E relative to said body portion. Ordinarily the `last mentioned adjustment will be effected only when the water supply is interrupted so that the cap D may be readily loosened to prevent the normal clamping pressure on the ange portion E' of the member E from interfering with the adjustment.

In order that each spray device, on each adjustment of the latter, may be accurately and easily anchored in the proper position, I advantageously provide the body of each spray device with a prong or projection B8 which can be pressed down into the earth to anchor the device in the ground at thefproper surface point, and with the desired direction of discharge. Advantageously each prong Bs is in the form of a pointed steel rod having its normally upper end cast into the body of thev corresponding spray device. f

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, I have illustrated vand described the best form of embodiment of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims and that in some cases certain features of my invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features. 1

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A spray nozzle formed with a chamber open at one end having a restricted outlet orii'lce at its opposite end, with said chamber of annular arc cross section and said orice in the form of a slot opening from said chamber at the convex side of the latter and the walls of said chamber connecting the convex and concave sides thereof being inclined relative to the radial planes intercepting the ends of said convex side of said chamber so that the convex side is of greater angular extent than its concave side.

2. In a spray nozzle, the combination of a cap member adapted for attachment to a fluid outlet and formed with an opening in its end wall, a second member extending through said opening and formed at its inner en d with a iiange engaging the inner side of said end wall at the margin of said opening and formed with an open ended water chamber and a third member connected to said second member and comprising a portion uniting with the latter to form a restricted outlet orifice from said chamber and a second portion overlying the outer side of said end wall and thereby holding said members together.

3. In a spray nozzle, the combination with a member formed with an open ended chamber of annular arc cross section and having the convex wall of said chamber at one end of the latter beveled, of a second member comprising a platelike portion extending across vsaid chamber and in contact with a portion of the wall of said chamber at said one end andf-including a curved beveled edge cooperating with said beveled wall to form an elongated arc shaped discharge orifice leading radially and axially away from said chamber.

JESSE P. HUBBELL. 

